Partnerships for technology transfer: how can investors and communities build renewable energy in Asia?

Technology transfer for climate change mitigation needs to focus on the diffusion of existing technologies as well as the innovation of technologies. • Diffusion requires full involvement of non-state actors, particularly business investors in new and renewable energy technologies and the local communities who adopt technologies. • This paper presents advice about how partnerships between investors and communities can accelerate technology transfer by reducing investors’ costs and making technologies more relevant to local development. Partnerships are based on a combination of creating assurance mechanisms, reducing transaction costs, and building trust and accountability. • Capacity-building and enabling environments for technology transfer therefore have to include building these partnerships between investors and host communities.